Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports addressed questions regarding mental health and wellbeing initiatives. Currently, there is no plan to establish a National Youth Mental Health Awareness Policy. The Ministry collaborates with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to integrate mental health services into existing healthcare programs and has launched initiatives like the National Tele Mental Health Programme.
Key Points / Main Content:
National Youth Mental Health Awareness Policy:
* There is no standalone National Youth Mental Health Awareness Policy under consideration.
* The National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), including the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), is implemented across 767 districts.
* Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) provide outpatient services, counselling, psycho-social interventions, continuing care, essential drugs, outreach, and ambulance services.
Mental Health Needs Assessment:
* No specific needs assessment has been conducted focusing exclusively on tribal, rural, differently-abled, and LGBTQIA youth.
Athlete Wellbeing Audits:
* The Ministry does not conduct periodic wellbeing audits of elite and grassroots athletes.
* The Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) allows for engaging mental health professionals with Indian players during national coaching camps and international competitions.
Collaboration and Integration:
* Over 1.77 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) have been upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, integrating mental health services.
* Operational guidelines and training manuals for Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders (MNS) at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been released under Ayushman Bharat.
Tele Mental Health Programme:
* The National Tele Mental Health Programme was launched on October 10, 2022.
* As of July 31, 2025, 36 States/UTs have set up 53 TeleMANAS Cells.
* TeleMANAS services are available in 20 languages, handling over 24 lakh calls.
* The TeleMANAS Mobile Application was launched on October 10, 2024, adding a video consultation facility.
Impact Analysis:
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing existing mental health programs and facilitating mental health support for athletes through NSFs.
* Action Required: Continue implementing the NMHP and DMHP. Ensure NSFs utilize provisions for mental health professionals.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
* Impact: Responsible for integrating mental health services into primary healthcare through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
* Action Required: Maintain and expand mental health services at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Continue the National Tele Mental Health Programme and TeleMANAS initiatives.
Tribal, Rural, Differently-abled, and LGBTQIA Youth:
* Impact: May benefit from the NMHP and integrated services at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, but lack targeted needs assessment.
* Action Required: Utilize available mental health services through CHCs, PHCs, and TeleMANAS.
Elite and Grassroots Athletes:
* Impact: Can access mental health professionals through the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs.
* Action Required: Utilize available mental health support during training and competitions.
States and Union Territories:
* Impact: Responsible for establishing and maintaining TeleMANAS Cells and integrating mental health services within their healthcare systems.
* Action Required: Maintain and expand TeleMANAS services, ensuring availability in local languages.
Citizens:
* Impact: Access to mental health services through upgraded health centers and the TeleMANAS program.
* Action Required: Utilize available mental health services through CHCs, PHCs, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and TeleMANAS.
Key Entities Referenced
National Youth Mental Health Awareness Policy: A proposed policy by the Government of India focusing on mental health awareness among youth.
National Mental Health Programme (NMHP): A Government of India initiative to address mental disorders, including the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP).
District Mental Health Programme (DMHP): A component of the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) implemented in 767 districts to provide mental health facilities.
Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs): A scheme providing support to National Sports Federations, including engaging mental health professionals for athletes.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: A government ministry responsible for health and family welfare initiatives.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs: Upgraded Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) providing comprehensive primary health care, including mental health services.
National Tele Mental Health Programme: A Government of India program launched to improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services.
TeleMANAS: A part of the National Tele Mental Health Programme. A tele-mental health service with cells set up across States/Union Territories and offering services in multiple languages.
Government of India
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3942
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
Mental Health and Youth Well-being
3942. Shri Charanjit Singh Channi:
Adv Dean Kuriakose:
Shri Benny Behanan:
Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is planning to establish a National Youth
Mental Health Awareness Policy, if so, the details thereof and if not, the
reasons therefor;
(b) whether the Government has conducted a need assessment of
mental health support among tribal, rural, differently-abled and
LGBTQIA youth;
(c) whether the Government is conducting any periodic well-being
audits of elite and grassroots athletes, with a mechanism to
anonymously report burnout, harassment or mental health concerns;
(d) if so, whether the Ministry is collaborating with other Ministries to
incorporate emotional resilience, body image and bullying prevention
modules in youth leadership and fitness programmes; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)(a) At present, there is no standalone National Youth Mental Health
Awareness Policy under consideration. However, in order to address the
burden of mental disorders, the Government is implementing the
National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), including the District
Mental Health Programme (DMHP), sanctioned in 767 districts to
provide facilities at Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary
Health Centres (PHCs) such as outpatient services, counselling, psycho-
social interventions, continuing care, essential drugs, outreach, and
ambulance services.
(b) No such needs assessment of mental health focusing exclusively
on tribal, rural, differently-abled and LGBTQIA youth has been
conducted.
(c) The Ministry as such does not conduct periodic well-being audits
of elite and grassroots athletes. However, under the Scheme of
Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs), there is a provision
to engage scientific support staff including mental health professionals
such as Psychologists with the Indian players during National Coaching
camps, international exposures/competitions etc.
(d) & (e) The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has upgraded more
than 1.77 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres
(PHCs) to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Mental health services have been
added in the packages of services under Comprehensive Primary Health
Care provided at these Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Operational
guidelines and training manuals for various cadres on Mental,
Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders (MNS) at Ayushman Arogya
Mandirs have been released under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat. The
Government has launched a National Tele Mental Health Programme on
10th October, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health
counselling and care services in the country. As on 31.07.2025, 36
States/UTs have set up 53 Tele-MANAS Cells. Tele-MANAS services are
available in 20 languages based on the language opted by States, and
more than 24 lakh calls have been handled on the helpline number. The
Government has also launched the Tele-MANAS Mobile Application on10th October, 2024, and introduced a video consultation facility in
addition to the existing audio calling facility.
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